BMA FILM REVIEWS: Fire of Love — Stronger Than Fiction 2022

Fire of Love — Stronger Than Fiction 2022


Review by Michele E. Hawkins.

Fire of Love tells something of the story of French volcanologists Katia and Maurice Krafft.  Katia was a geochemist and Maurice a geologist, and from the late 1960s until 1991 they travelled the world to study volcanoes up close, taking gas, lava, and other samples from their study sites.  The Krafft’s photographic and video recordings brought unparalleled images to the world, and their work over more than two decades, so the narration tells us, increased our understanding of these extraordinary natural phenomena.

American documentary director and producer Sara Dosa wrote, filmed, and directed Fire of Love, which benefits greatly from its poetic narration by Miranda July.  The photography is stunning, and the soundtrack gives some idea of the terrifying booms and crackles accompanying erupting volcanoes.  The Kraffts, who were passionate about volcanoes, must have also been fearless.

Interspersed with footage of the Kraffts on volcanoes are footage and photos of them in their laboratory back in France, on holidays, on their wedding day, and in interviews.  They were clearly well-matched as scientists and presumably as husband and wife, although this aspect of their relationship is inferred in the narration rather than shown.

The Kraffts were unusual in their relentless quest to be as close to volcanic eruptions as possible, even walking over molten lava.  Just how necessary this sort of thing was to their scientific enquiry is something to contemplate, but volcanoes seemed to give them the sort of joy that nothing else did. It seems that nothing deterred them, that no risk wasn’t worth taking.

Those hoping for a deeper exploration of or romantic revelations about the Kraffts’ relationship may feel a little disappointed.  The film doesn’t explore their personal relationship beyond speculating about how they met and indicating that they discovered their common passion for volcanoes immediately and never looked back.  Nor does the film tell us just what the Kraffts’ research added to our knowledge.

As far as visual spectacles go, though, Fire of Love delivers in spades, and anyone who enjoys the phenomenal extravagance that nature has to offer will not be disappointed.  The up-close footage is especially stunning, even if you may find yourself wondering who would be insane enough to get that close to something that powerful, unpredictable, and dangerous.

The Stronger Than Fiction documentary festival’s second and final screening of Fire of Love is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Friday 26 August at Canberra’s Dendy cinemas.

Review - Hope Road

Review by Rod Freedman

Hope Road Dir: Tom Zubycki | Australia

Tom Zubrycki is one of Australia’s most consistent and prolific documentary filmmakers. Shooting over five years, Tom follows the quest of South Sudanese refugee and Sydney resident Zacharia to build a much-needed mudbrick school back in his remote home village. After an initial visit and a hero’s welcome, a new outbreak of fighting prevents him returning to Southern Sudan, but he won’t give up his dream.

He's enthusiastically supported by a small band of Aussies, including Janet, a TAFE teacher who accompanies him on an ambitious fund-raising walk from Brisbane to Sydney. The power of a film shot over such a long time is that we see the ups and downs of this refugee trying to make his way in a new country while remaining closely connected to the old one. Other personal complications arise to challenge Zac’s indomitable spirit. Especially heartening is the reception Zac gets along the way from school students and country communities. It’s a serious, funny and warm film.

 
 

What I Love About... Fire At Sea

By Joshua Paul

Fire At Sea Dir: Gianfranco Rosi | Italy

Fire At Sea hit me like a ton of bricks when I saw it. This quiet film is subtle and understated for most of its runtime - it is shot on Lampedusa, a small island off the coast of Sicily, where most people are fisherman. Periodically, the dependable routines of the villagers are interrupted by boats packed with refugees drifting off shore - a result of the European Migrant Crisis of 2015. Government officials work overtime to take in these boats; distributing blankets and food, administering health care where necessary, and moving the people into a refugee camp. 

Berlinale-Fuocoammare-Fire-at-Sea.jpg

Primarily, we follow a young boy living on the island. His dad dives for fish. His mum cooks at home. He and his friend shoot slingshots at cacti. He tells the doctor he is more sick than he is. The doctor shows the cameraman  pictures of some migrants he has treated. The local radio operator converses with drifting ships, and relays their position to the coastguard. The coastguard scrambles helicopters and speed boats.

Director Gianfranco Rosi shoots with such a careful eye for humanity. The film usually operates on long takes of beautiful stationary shots. A helicopter preparing for take off. A pier full of boats bobbing on the water. A radio console. Our young boy carving a slingshot. The film is strung together with these poignant vignettes that powerfully convey the raw and real circumstances people find themselves in. You can't help but feel empathy as the film unfolds.  

At some point in the film, the juxtaposition just clicked with me - the simple stable lives of the villagers contrasted with the desperation and tragedy of the migrants' plight - all the frantic activity to bring survivors aboard while back at home a woman silently changes the sheets in the guest room. 

 
 

Fire At Sea screened at Stronger Than Fiction in 2016. It is available on DVD or iTunes.